The Alamo has special meaning to me because as my mom puts it: “I am a daughter of the Texas Revolution.” Basically this means I have ancestors from San Antonio and I should be proud of it (of course I am- I am proud of all my ancestors). Anyways, the Alamo really is a great place to explore and I would recommend it to anyone. How could you even possible consider going to San Antonio and not making a stop at the Alamo? It’s also free to visit and explore thanks to the The Daughters of the Republic of Texas who have been maintaining and preserving this historic site since 1905. While it’s free admission they do appreciate donations.

The River Walk is a famous scene in downtown San Antonio. It’s gorgeous and does provide a little relief from the hot Texas heat and humidity.  There is so much to do and see. We just enjoyed walking around and looking at all the shops, restaurants, hotels and bars. But if you are not into walking you can also take a boat ride for a faster and probably more comprehensive tour of the walk. After walking for a couple of hours and enjoying the evening we decided to eat at one of the restaurants. We really wanted some fantastic Mexican food and found Casa Rio which has been around since 1944 and is famous for their delicious food that is reasonably priced, great location, and colorful umbrella seating right next to the river. You won’t want to miss out but you will have to wait! This is the most popular restaurant on the river (totally worth it).

The next day came the culmination of the trip: SeaWorld! We both were so excited as neither of us had been to a SeaWorld destination before. I love San Antonio’s SeaWorld because it’s not only a great way to learn and interact with different marine life but they also have roller coasters and an entire water park that are included with your ticket price!  So wear your swim suit under your clothes and in-between shows and rides take a dip in the lazy river- it really helps you keep cool. I loved the sea lion, beluga and killer whale shows the best but we also enjoyed the water skiing show. We had a blast and really it became the highlight of our trip. It’s proof that it’s not just a place for kids but adults will enjoy too.

San Antonio is a city filled with history and culture. It’s beautiful in its own right and really easy to navigate. From this experience we left with a new found knowledge of the Texas Revolution, an appreciation for beautiful scenery and delicious food, and a commitment to fun and nature.

Visiting San Diego was something I had been wanting to do for a long time. I had been there once as a kid but didn’t really remember what it was like or didn’t even have clear memories of the visit. So the excitement I felt was a bit of an understatement. We had some issues with our flight- we weren’t able to land in San Diego due to the wind and so we were re-routed to LAX for a couple of hours. Then when we finally managed to get into San Diego, but it was so late that the rental car company was closed. Arghhhh. While it was a rough start, the rest of our trip definitely made up for it.

One of the great things about San Diego is there is so much to do and so much to see. Of course you have SeaWorld which is always an awesome time and the San Diego Zoo however these places can be a little costly but for sure worthwhile. We first ventured to Coronado because we had heard great things about the city. It was cool and fun to see- the hotel is beautiful and looks like it would be a great place to stay and vacation. The beaches are beautiful as well.

Other things I would definitely recommend to do during your visit to San Diego would be to journey to Point Loma, which is a hilly peninsula in the pacific ocean. Point Loma in and of itself has a few things to explore, Old Point Loma Lighthouse is kind of fun and you can actually go in it and see how the keeper lived, a museum, some bunkers from World War two days and some really fun tidal pools that kids (and adults) would love. The view you get of San Diego is breathtaking- but as a warning there is walking uphill associated, although it’s pretty accessible by car. Plus its pretty cheap admittance- about $5 that covers parking and is good for a week.

Gas Lamp Quarter is gorgeous. I would recommend plan to eat at least one dinner in the Gas Lamp Quarter. The small restaurants are a little pricey but it’s romantic and the food is worth the money. We drove a little north and went to mission beach. We rented bikes and rode along the board walk (it was about $30 to rent two bikes for a couple of hours). It’s more of a surf beach that is a lot of fun. It also was gorgeous.

Old Town San Diego is also worth checking out- as is Balboa Park (where San Diego Zoo is located). Also the waterfront is a fun place to explore old ships, and learn about San Diego’s history. Ours was a short weekend trip where we crammed in as much as we could. I would recommend a week long vacation so as you could relax and maybe enjoy a Padres game, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo and all the great things San Diego has to offer.